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John W. Hilton & General George S. Patton:
an exerpt from The Man Who Captured Sunshine by Katherine Ainsworth

In the days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, John W. Hilton was introduced to a group of Army officers meeting in the Indio Hotel Restaurant. The officers asked John about the best locations to train tank crews for General George Patton. John willingly shared his best advice and drew a circle on the officer's map. Soon afterward, military materiel flooded into the desert, and Camp Young was born. In short order, General Patton invited John for dinner where the general thanked John for his map, and enlisted his participation in several reconnoitering trips, where John and the general surveyed the California and Arizona deserts.

Following is an excerpt from a biography of John W. Hilton by Katherine Ainsworth which retells the tale of John and his first meeting with General George S. Patton.

Chapter Twenty-FiveNews of war came to John Hilton in Hidden Springs, a remote camping site where Zane Grey spent many hours writing. Hilton was camped with Randall Henderson, publisher of the Desert Magazine, and other members of the Sierra Club. Hilton had entertained the group at the campfire the previous night. Suddenly young Randy dashed into the camp dodging rocks and palm trees as he shouted, “Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor.”

“Randy volunteered for service the next day and I never saw him again,” recalled Hilton. “News that America was again involved in a war shattered the tranquility of our desert and shook us up as it did everyone in the nation. Pretty soon rumors were being spread about as to the role the desert was to play in the war effort. Some folks said there was to be a training camp installed somewhere, but I didn’t pay any attention.”

One night shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, John Hilton and his neighbor Russ Nicoll were having dinner at the Indio Hotel. He noticed that at a nearby table a group of army officers were studying some maps and talking intently to the owner of the hotel. In a few minutes, the proprietor came over to Hilton’s table and said, “These men are on General Patton’s staff. They are trying to locate a good place for a training camp and want to meet someone who knows the desert. I told them nobody knew more about it than John Hilton. Can you come over and suggest a suitable place?”

John went and after being introduced to the men, sat down at their table and looked at the map before them. It was an ordinary map put out by the Automobile Club of Southern California. John listened as they outlined their requirements and then studied the map for a few moments. He picked up a pencil and drew a large circle near Mecca, east of Indio.

He told them that he thought they would find what they were seeking in that general area. The land was reasonably level and well-drained, there was an adequate water supply available from the L.A. aqueduct, and the highways were nearby. The men thanked him and left. Hilton thought no more of the matter until government surveyors came down to the desert and were quickly followed by large tractors and other earth-moving equipment. Within months Camp Young was established and General Patton and his tanks and army recruits arrived to train for the North African campaign of the war. When the camp was well established, General Patton called upon John’s knowledge and familiarity with the desert terrain.

Hilton was invited to dinner out at Camp Young and General Patton presented his special guest with a map. It was the same map on which John had drawn the circle that night at the Indio Hotel. On it the engineers had drawn a small rectangle which was about the shape of the camp, which fitted inside the circle. On the map, Patton had written, “Thanks, John, you saved us a lot of trouble.”

A limited number of copies are available
through our gallery for $35.00. Contact usKatherine Ainsworth recounts many and varied tales from the extraordinary life of John W. Hilton.

This map Hilton still cherishes as much as he would a Presidential Citation.

It was a matter of great satisfaction to John that this great general valued his knowledge of the desert enough to call upon him for advice. Patton wanted him to accept a job with the army, but Hilton’s long years of childhood indoctrination with the loving pacifistic teachings of his church would not permit him to yield on this persuasion. Then, too, he wanted to remain free of any obligations and entanglements with the governmental red tape. He decided that whatever information he possessed which could be helpful he would gladly give, but when the demands increased, his painting time was pushed aside.

Troop train enroute to Camp Young in Indio

These phone calls for advice became more and more frequent. Usually when he arrived, he would find Patton studying a map on a table and the general would ask, “What is this terrain like? Is there any cholla or barrel cactus in this area?"

If Hilton said “No,” then Patton would say, “Good then we can use this area for night maneuvers.”

Then he would go on to explain, “I want my men to take just as rough a beating as I can give them in as near the situation they will have in North Africa, but there isn’t any cactus in North Africa so I don’t want them wasting time pulling cactus spines from each other’s ass.”

From time to time John went on exploration trips with the General, or “Old Man” as he was affectionately beginning to refer to him in his mind as did most of the soldiers.

“I think I got to know the Old Man pretty well, if anyone ever did, on those trips,” Hilton said. “One time we went out across the Colorado River into Arizona, inspecting the area. We were traveling in two Jeeps -- two officers and myself and the General and two drivers. We stopped on a mesa and the Old Man said, ‘Lets stop right here on this level place for the night.’"

“I said, ‘General in my opinion this is not a good place to camp. This is the time of year for sidewinders and this spot is between two deep washes full of ironwood trees and a lot of brush, and its just close enough that sidewinders would be possibly crawling from one was to another, and coming through the camp.’

Tents at Camp Young in Indio

Camp Young Tank crew member and his canteen
During training, canteen water was rationed to help the men adapt to the conditions they would find in North Africa.

The General just snorted, ‘Oh bosh, I don’t see any sidewinders.’

Well, who was I to argue with a general, so we set up camp,” continued Hilton in recalling his experiences with Patton.

“We soon had a roaring ironwood fire going and all of a sudden one of the drivers got a strange look on his face and I followed his eyes. There, coming out of the darkness right toward us, was a sidewinder. There’s a thing about campfires and sidewinders -- they are attracted by the light. It fascinates them like it does to a moth.

Well, that little old sidewinder came twisting from side to side right in and I saw that by now the General was watching, too. Just as that sidewinder got fairly close to the campfire, the Old Man pulled out one of his famous pearl-handled revolvers he always wore and let him have it.

That night the two drivers slept in one of the Jeeps. I looked kind of longingly at them but the Major, the General, and I slept on the ground in sleeping bags. After Patton stood in that famous stance of his, legs spread apart and hands on hips glaring off into the darkness, and roared out, ‘Those damned snakes won’t crawl into a sleeping bag!’ We meekly had followed his action and timidly slipped into our bags.

Sure enough, the snakes didn’t bother us. Guess even sidewinders knew better than to defy "Old Blood and Guts" Patton. But the next night he said sort of casually, ‘Hell, John, you pick the camping place.’”

Postscript ... from Chapter Twenty nine

The story of John Hilton's friendship with General George S. Patton Jr. cannot come to a close without further note.

Hilton's story becomes, in a quiet way, an important sidelight to the record of this vital and complex man of such historical greatness in his country's military history.

When Patton left for combat, Hilton never expected to see him again. Their paths, he realized, were too divergent. But he followed with avid interest newspaper and radio accounts of his hero's exploits through the first action in the African campaign. There Patton led his troops, so well trained in the California desert, through the triumphant conquest of Tunisia. Hilton roared with laughter as the Old Man, raging and cussing, with his two pearl-handled six shooters swinging from his hips, led his men victoriously through Sicily and then on into the mainland of Europe.

When the Germans signed the unconditional surrender May 7, 1945 at 2:41 A.M., at the Rheims Headquarters, Patton was able to have a brief furlough. He returned to his home in San Marino, CA. The people, out of gratitude, staged a great parade and a hero's welcome.

The opening footage of this newsreel shows the post-war Los Angeles Parade (sixty-five years ago) in honor of General Patton and General Dolittle

John Hilton and his young son stood among the thousands lining the streets of Los Angeles to catch a glimpse of the great war hero.

"It never occurred to me to do anything but just stand unobtrusively among all those people. All we hoped for at the most was just to see him go by, because this was his greatest moment -- the return victorious.

We were just standing waiting when finally the parade came and there was the car with General Patton standing up in it and he was waving his helmet, bowing this way and that. Suddenly he leaned forward and tapped the driver of the car on the shoulder and said something. The car pulled out of line, right up beside my boy and me, and in his high squeaky voice Patton called out, 'Hello there, John. Are you coming to the program tonight?'

I told him we didn't have tickets and after he shook hands with my son and me he said, 'You'll get some. Just stay right where you are until you do.'

As the car pulled ahead into the line of parade, the Old Man turned around and, cupping his hands to his mouth, yelled back, 'I'm coming down to the desert and we're going quail hunting as soon as the mopping up mess is over in Europe.'

"That was the last time I ever saw or spoke to him. A corporal brought those tickets, just as the General had promised, and we went to the Coliseum. We enjoyed every bit of the program. The most famous people of Hollywood and politics were there, but to us, Patton's speech made everything else on the program seem flat."

reprinted with the permission of Kathi Hilton
-------About the author ... Katherine Ainsworth was married to Ed Ainsworth, famed columnist and newsman of the L.A. Times. John W. Hilton was among their closest friends and neighbors. In January and February of 2008, Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery hosted an exhibition entitled "Painters of the Desert" based on Ed Ainsworth's book, Painters of the Desert which is full of biographical sketches and photos of many of his desert artist friends. Katherine served as a children's librarian for the Los Angeles Public Library (1928-35), school librarian for Los Angeles public schools (1949-51), and head librarian for Monrovia Public Library (1953-67). She was also a regular reviewer for the Los Angeles Times and the Monrovia News Post. Among her writings are The Man Who Captured Sunshine (1978): a biography of the desert artist John W. Hilton and The McCallum Saga: the Story of the Founding of Palm Springs.

Below are links to our previous Bodega Bay Heritage GalleryPainters of the Desert Gallery Exhibition and links to newsletter articles relating to John W. Hilton.

SF's de Young presentsBirth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay, May 22 - Sep 6, 2010

Art lovers, make your plans now! You will be visiting the de Young Museum this summer and again this fall!

While a 14-month-long restoration at Paris' Musée d’Orsay progresses, the famed museum's collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings will be visiting the world, including two major exhibitions at San Francisco's de Young Museum. Exhibitions will also be presented Tokyo, Madrid, Nashville, and Canberra, Australia.

And while the de Young hosts the Musée d’Orsay paintings, San Francisco's Legion of Honor is offering a concurrent opportunity; Impressionist Paris: City of Light June 5, 2010 — September 26, 2010. Each ticket for the de Young exhibit includes a same-day admission for "Impressionist Paris: City of Light," at the Legion of Honor which features 150 prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, and illustrated books from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and several private collections.

The Musée d’Orsay is located on the left bank of the Seine, and was the former railway station, the Gare d'Orsay. The structure was opened in time for the 1900 Exposition Universelle and served as the terminus for the railways of southwestern France until events of World War II caused the station to cease operations in 1939. It's original design in earlier times was becoming obsolete as its platforms weren't long enough to accomodate the length of more modern trains. During the war, the depot was used for a postal facility, and afterward as a center to assist returning

Edgar Degas: The Dance Lesson

Edouard Manet:The Fife Player

Claude Monet:The Rue Montorgueil Paris
June 30 1878

Frederick Bazille: Family Reunion

prisoners of war. Since WW II, it was used as a realistic location for films, including Kafka's The Trial adapted by Orson Welles. In 1973, the facility was closed. In 1977 the French Government decided to convert the station to a museum. The building underwent massive conversion from 1980 to 1986, creating 20,000 square meters of new floorspace on four floors. The new museum was opened by President François Mitterrand on December 1, 1986.

The Musée d’Orsay will remain open while it restores its upper-floor galleries and east pavilion. When complete, the museum will have added 20,000 square feet of exhibition space along with more modern security measures.

It has since become a major attraction in the art world. Among its massive collection are 32 paintings by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, 86 by Claude Monet, 81 by Pierre-Auguste Renoir , 43 by Edgar Degas, 56 by Paul Cézanne and includes multiple paintings by a long list of other world class painters.

Pierre Auguste Renoir: The Swing

Edgar Degas:Racehorses Before the Stands

To help pay for the current renovations, some of the museum's collection has been pressed into service, given the double task as serving as ambassador for the museum and for France, and to send home some welcomed funds to help pay the restoration's expenses. San Francisco is quite fortunate to host these back to back exhibitions, allowing art lovers here to have a taste of the artistic treasures. The NY Times reports that when John E. Buchannan, director of the Fine Arts Museums

of San Francisco, learned of the Musée d’Orsay’s planned restorations, he "leapt at the opportunity to bring these paintings to San Francisco." The de Young is the only museum to host both the impressionist and post-impressionists exhibitions.

Although not quite as exciting as a future trip to Paris to see these paintings in the newly renovated Musée d’Orsay, the opportunity to view them in Golden Gate Park at our own de Young is not to be missed.

The paintings of Alexander Dzigurski and John W. Hilton have received glowing admiration from art lovers for decades. Both artists have compelling and unique biographies and easily identifiable and fascinating styles. But beyond their art, each has been blessed with a child who carried on his artistic legacy. Alexander's son Alexander II, and John's daughter Kathi have each distinguished themselves as well known artists, following the paths of their respective fathers.

As a young Slovenian artist striving hard to establish himself Alexander Dzigurski's efforts were diverted by World War II. Like others his age, he joined the Slovenian military. After Slovenia was rolled over by the Nazi War machine, Alexander and his wife and daughter were scheduled for transfer to a prison camp. The young family managed to escape to Vienna where they hid among the Slovenian expatriot community, and Alexander hid in the open as a house painter. They remained in Vienna through the end of the war, when they made their way to Italy, and then on to the U.S. After arriving in America, Alexander painted icons in orthodox churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In time, he made a trip west and thrilled at the sight of the Rockies, the Sierra, and the Pacific Coast. He used his European training and his newly discovered love of American freedom by interpreting the grandeur of the American landscape in his art. He said his paintings of the American landscape was his way of celebrating American freedom.

John W. Hilton had a fascinating life. He was born in China, the son of American missionaries, and had made the voyage across the Pacific several times while growing up. As a young man, he apprenticed as a jeweler in Hollywood, and among his clients were film stars from the silent film industry. At first, he began his treks into the desert, seeking gems in the hills east of San Diego. In time, he established a gem shop east of Palm Springs near Indio, CA, and while there, he began painting, selling his first efforts at painting in his gem shop. His small shop attracted other desert artists who began giving John some painting tutilage, and many became his life long friends. Among his early visitors and teachers were Maynard Dixon, Jimmy Swinnerton, Clyde Forsythe, and Fred Chisnall. Over the years, he added a long list of notable artists and othe famous persons among his circle of friends and painting partners; including Nicolai Fechin, Orpha Klinker, Bill Bender, Sam Hyde Harris, Conrad Buff, Robert Rishell, Ralph Love, Paul Lauritz, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and legendary actor, James Cagney.

Apart from painting, Hilton assisted General George S. Patton as discussed above. During the war, he operated a calcite mine on the eastern shores of the Salton Sea providing an optical grade of calcite used for an optical sight for American bombers to be able to shoot down enemy fighters. As a keen student of the desert, he found time to collect animal and plant specimens for universities, some of which bear his name. He wrote several books and numerous magazine articles of desert life and history. He was a student of native Americans, and counted many among his closest friends. Howard Hughes once flew out to his gem shop to visit his friend John, landing his plane in front on the highway and bringing lobster for his daughter Kathi's birthday.

At Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery, we are pleased to offer historic paintings of Alexander Dzigurski and John W. Hilton, and we are privileged and thrilled to represent the works of Alexander Dzigurski II and and Kathi Hilton. Alex maintains his studio in Mountain View, CA, and Kathi resides and paints in Roosevelt, Utah. Back to the Top

Milford Zornes Exhibition
Not to be missed ... at the Wilding Museum,
Los Olivos, CA near Solvang

Milford Zornes: An American Artist runs March 28 through June 6, 2010. The exhibit was opened by a lecture by Gordon McClelland.

Milford Zornes is quite significant as a watercolor artist and teacher. He passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 100. He is one of the founding members of the California Style of watercolor painting, a style which employed large sheets of rag paper, expansive and expressive brushstrokes, bold colors, and even using the color of the paper as a color value in the painting. He began his painting career in the midst of the Great Depression. Watercolorists had some advantage over oil painters in that they could transport their materials outdoors more easily. But the quick drying nature of watercolor demanded precision and planning, and there was no room for error. But Zornes mastered the form, and has left behind a dazzling array of interpretations of the American landscape.

The exhibition was curated by Alizza J. Anderson with the assistance of Gordon McClelland.

During our "Generations" Gallery exhibition, we have accompanying materials for each artist for sale at the gallery courtesy of the artists' respective families. Please email us for information to arrange for purchase if you cannot do so in person.

For Alexander Dzigurski, we have The Art of Alexander Dzigurski by Phyllis Barton, a coffee table sized book with many color photos illustrating both the artist's ecclesiastical and landscape paintings, plus his compelling history of survival during WW II. The book is priced at $55.00. We also have a film on DVD, The Palette and the Symphony, with Alexander Dzigurski painting in various landscape settings set to music, priced at $20.00. Bodega Bay sales tax is 9%.

For John W. Hilton, we have his biography, The Man Who Captured Sunshine (excerpt above) by Katherine Ainsworth, priced at $35.00, recounting the many of the adventures and associations of this fascinating man's life, including his meeting and artistic relationship with with Dwight Eisenhower. The book contains photos from Hilton's life and several color pages of his paintings.

The Oakland Museum reopens May 1st after a long renovation. We will be visiting during May and will report on it in the June issue. Check their website for more details. Oakland Museum Link

Time to head to Ukiah for a visit to the Grace Hudson Museum and its Special Exhibit Space, Silence, Spirit: Maynard Dixon's West February 28 through June 20, 2010.

At the Grand Canyon National Park there is the Kolb Gallery which will be featuring paintings by John Hilton, James Swinnerton, Gunnar Widforss, Edgar Payne, W. R. Leigh, Conrad Buff, and many more.

Also offering works of the late Gail Packer.Conveniently located next to The Ren Brown Collection
1785 A Highway One, PO Box 1116, Bodega Bay, CA 94923http://www.SmithAndKirk.com | 707-875-2976

IN BODEGA BAY Local Color Artist Gallery

"Susan Ball ~ Back on the Coast Again" An extraordinary showing of plein air landscapes and still life oil paintings by well known artist, Susan Ball. Included in the show are whimsical abstract paintings by Lisa Beernsten and etchings, drawings and mixed media works of Joyce Libeu.

IN BODEGA BAY The Ren Brown Collection
Spring 2010 Exhibit:
Mayumi Oda - Feminine Buddha , Original paintings, silkscreens and etchings from the past 40 years will be included in this special show celebrating the Twentieth Anniversary of the Gallery in Bodega Bay. In collaboration with the San Francisco Zen Center and Green Gulch Farm. March 11 - April 18. 2010http://www.renbrown.com | Back to the Top

Liya and Andrew

And while visiting galleries in Bodega Bay, dine at TheTerrapin Creek Cafe"just above Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery"Here's what Santa Rosa's Press Democrat had to say ...
"... Against all odds, this little storefront restaurant, in the space that was once the Seaweed Café, perched on a hillside above the Bodega harbor marina, has pulled off a culinary coup. In a Wine Country stuffed with world-renowned restaurants, it is, in a quiet and unassuming way, among the best."

IN Santa Rosa The Annex Galleries specializing in 19th, 20th, and 21st century
American and European fine printsThe Annex Galleries is a member of the International Fine Print Dealers Association (IFPDA).http://www.AnnexGalleries.com| Back to the Top

IN VALLEY FORD West County DesignPaintings of the Coast by local artists, and fine crafts and household furnishingsBohemian Stoneworks produces cast concrete of exceptional beauty
for applications such as kitchen counters and sinks, fireplace surrounds and furniture.Craig Collins Furniture has specialized in designing and building custom furniture, fine woods, clean lines.
14390 Highway One • Valley Ford, CA 94972 • 707.876.1963
(Across from the Valley Ford Hotel and its famed Rocker Oysterfeller's Restaurant)http://www.westcountydesign.com |Back to the Top

IN PETALUMA Calabi GallerySebastopol's own famed master conservator Dennis Calabi brings his rare knowledge and experience to present a tasteful and eclectic array of primarily 20th century artwork.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, May 9, from 2 to 4 pm. We will also be participating in the Petaluma Art Walk on Saturday, May 8 from 4 to 7 144 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952 Call 707-781-94952 http://www.calabigallery.com |Back to the Top

IN PETALUMAVintage Bank AntiquesVintage Bank Antiques is located in Historic Downtown Petaluma, corner of Western Avenue and Petaluma Blvd. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Warren Davis and the rest of the team at Vintage Bank Antiques has assembled a spectacular inventory of paintings. From the 18th Century to Contemporary Artists. We have paintings to suit every price point and collector level. If you have a painting for sale, please consider Vintage Bank Antiques. Contact Warren Davis directly at WarrenDavisPaintings@yahoo.com101 Petaluma Blvd. North, Petaluma, CA 94952, ph: 707.769.3097http://vintagebankantiques.com | Back to the Top

In Waimea, Big Island, Hawaii Isaacs Art CenterWell worth the effort ... while on the Big Island, visit its best Museum and Gallery,
with some impressive and historic Hawaiian art.http://isaacsartcenter.hpa.edu | Back to the Top

NEW! in San Francisco's PresidioThe Walt Disney Family Museum tickets available onlineApril 7 - June 2010 Walt Disney's Peter Pan An exhibition in our Theater Lobby Walt's early interest in Peter Pan finally became a feature-length animated film in 1953, and its look was greatly influenced by artist Mary Blair.

San Franciscode Young Museum Make plans now ...
coming soon from Musée d’Orsay
"Birth of Impressionism"
opens May 22 - Sep 6

OaklandOakland Museum of CaliforniaAfter renovations, Reopening May 1, 2010The new Gallery of California Art
showcases more than 800 works
"... one of the largest and most
comprehensive holdings of California art"

San Jose San Jose Museum of ArtWayne Thiebaud: Seventy Years of Painting
February 16, 2010 through July 4, 2010

Southern California (and Arizona)

Los Angeles Los Angeles Museum of Art -Renoir in the 20th Century
February 14, 2010–May 9, 2010
-American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765–1915 February 28, 2010–May 23, 2010 -Land & Sea: Paintings and Photographs of Monterey and Beyond.Through October 24
Featuring paintings, photographs, watercolors and etchings, Land & Sea will offer visitors a unique look at how Monterey’s natural and urban landscape has influenced the many artists who lived and worked in Monterey and abroad.

Palm Springs
Palm Springs Art MuseumColors of the West: The Paintings of Birger Sandzén, Apr 17 - Sept 12 McCALLUM WING
In 1894 Sandzen immigrated to the United States. Considered a post-Impressionist for his use of color and expressionist in technique, Sandzén created vibrant and dynamic paintings of prairie and western landscapes. In 1908, he made his first trip to Colorado and in 1915 became a regular visitor to Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. He found the Southwest and its mountains “… a paradise for the painter.”

Prescott, AZ Phippen MuseumAll Aboard! The Life and Work of Marjorie Reed
March 6 to June 11, 2010
Preview and reception, March 5. Exhibit explores the career of painter Marjorie Reed. Best known for her depictions of the Butterfield-Overland Stage, Marjorie Reed made her living as a free lance artist for over 65 years. Her life was as colorful as her art!

Atlanta, GA High Museum of ArtThe American collection ... paintings by William Merritt Chase, Henry Ossawa Tanner, John Twachtman and Childe Hassam. It includes landscapes by Hudson River School artists, figure paintings by Henry Inman and John Singer Sargent, and still-life paintings by John Frederick Peto, William Michael Harnett
and William Mason Brown.